DPRK fires two short-range missiles into eastern waters

SEOUL, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) had fired two short-range missiles into its eastern waters early Wednesday, local media reported, citing South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The DPRK launched two short-range ballistic missiles, presumed to be Scud, from a site in Hwanghae Province in a northeasterly direction at 4:00 a.m. and 4:20 a.m. local time.

The Hwanghae Province is located in the DPRK's western region. The missiles flew some 500 km across the DPRK territory into its eastern international waters.

This time, Pyongyang also failed to issue a no-fly, no- navigation warning before the missile launches, endangering civilian ships and airplanes possibly flying through the region when the missiles were fired, the report said.

It was the DPRK's 13th launch of missiles or artillery shells this year. The DPRK has launched more than 90 short- and medium- range missiles and shells since Feb. 21.

It also marked the fifth launch of ballistic missiles this year. Pyongyang test-fired a total of 10 Scud and Rodong missiles.

The latest happened on July 2 when the DPRK fired two short- range projectiles with its 300-mm multiple rocket launcher termed by South Korea as KN-09.